The last U.S. convoy had hardly crossed into Kuwait on Sunday when Iraq was thrust into new and potentially dangerous political turmoil. Judy Woodruff discusses the country's latest political crisis with the Naval Postgraduate School's Abbas Kadhim and Feisal Istrabadi of Indiana University.

CBI: the return of the dollar exchange rate to what it wasCentral Bank of Iraq to provide unified ATM servicesPBS Newshour (Video): Does Maliki Want to Become Unchallenged Ruler of Iraq?ISX: trading volume during the week amounted to 3 billion and 800 million dinarsAdviser to Maliki: U.S. companies invested will enter Iraq early 2012Iraq’s Maliki urges Kurds to hand over VP; Biden calls on leaders to work out disputesCBI Treasury Bill Auction Dec 20, 2011CBI Daily Currency Auction Dec 21 2011: $249.5 millionBan Ki-moon calls on political leaders to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve differencesIraqi List is highly critical of Maliki’s comments and seeks a no-confidence vote for his governmentBiden calls for Maliki to sit down with leaders of political blocs to resolve the crisisMaliki: There are no U.S. troops on Iraqi territoryAdeeb: Iraq should regain its history and treasures after the U.S. withdrawalBaghdad to build American university [link to thecurrencynewshound.com]

IRAQ WILL COLLAPSE WITHOUT HCL SOON Iraq will collapse if oil and gas law is not put in placeTuesday, Dec 20, 2011Gulf News Onlinewww.zawya.com

As a result Exxon was commissioned to develop oil and gas in six locations in the northern region of Iraq, sadly without the consent of Baghdad. All this is taking place as the country is on the threshold of a new era, without US troops on the ground. Some may think that the US is standing behind Exxon as its interests are the same as those of Washington.

However, that is not the case today.

The US State Department said lately that it had warned ExxonMobil and other US firms of the risks of signing contracts in Iraq without nationwide approval, but would not say whether it talked with Exxon before it struck the controversial oil deal in the Kurdistan region.

Because many people see ExxonMobil as an extension of the US State Department, some analysts believe the deal must have been approved by it.

At a media briefing, the State Department denied any knowledge of the Exxon deal and stressed that it did not encourage any oil company to strike deals bilaterally with governorates. The bottom line: deals have to be signed with the central government.

Iraq Ministry of Commerce intends to amend law; Implement streamline to facilitate the registration of foreign companiesPosted: December 21, 2011

, indicating that the changes took place in the light of the changes required by the current stage For the purpose of facilitating the process of recording companies and streamline that, especially after the recovery of the economic situation across the country

The specialists reported that the department is carrying out such amendments by the Committee will be soon followed by the adoption of new regulations for registration in the light of the new system.

Posted Today, 10:55 AMPremier Maliki LashesOut At His Political Rivals In The Iraqi National Movement

21/12/2011 16:18

By Joel Wing*

After travelling to Washington D.C. to meet with PresidentBarak Obama to mark the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, Prime MinisterNouri al-Maliki promptly returned home to take on his main rivals in the IraqiNational Movement led by Iyad Allawi. First, he asked parliament to have a noconfidence vote against Deputy Premier Saleh al-Mutlaq, and then charged VicePresident Tariq Hashemi’s bodyguards, and then the man himself, withinvolvement in terrorist attacks. This came just after Allawi said he was readyto reconcile with the prime minister. From what’s known now, some of Maliki’smoves are purely political payback, while others may have legal standing.

While Maliki was in the United States, and upon his return,members of the National Movement launched a series of attacks and challenges tohim. First, Deputy Premier Saleh al-Mutlaq gave an interview with CNN where hecalled Maliki the worst dictator in Iraqi history. He accused Maliki of runninga one party state, and consolidating power in his hands. That was followed byNational Movement leaders meeting at the residence of Vice President Tariqal-Hashemi in Baghdad’s Green Zone. They emerged declaring that the list wouldboycott parliament until Maliki included them in decision-making, implementedthe power sharing promises he made after the 2010 election, and stoppedcarrying out arbitrary arrests. These have been common accusations against theprime minister, although saying that Maliki was the worst autocrat in Iraq,ignoring Saddam Hussein, was obviously hyperbole. Even before the 2010elections, many critics claimed Maliki was attempting to dominate the stateapparatus, and was mistrustful of others. Those trends have continued since hegained his second term at the expense of the INM. The difference this time wasthat most of the leaders of the National Movement were finally agreeing upon acommon stance. Before, it was mostly Allawi acting unilaterally, complainingabout Maliki’s centralizing of power in his own hands. Now, the whole list wasjoining in.

Premier Maliki was quick to retaliate. First he askedparliament to hold a no confidence vote against Deputy Premier Mutlaq. Two dayslater, he issued orders to bar Mutlaq from entering the parliament building.The prime minister first made the proposal at a meeting of the NationalAlliance on December 15, but the rest of the list rejected the idea. Thatdidn’t stop Maliki. Then it was leaked to the press that there was an arrestwarrant pending against Vice President Hashemi. At the beginning of December,the police received a tip that one of the vice president’s bodyguards wasbuilding a car bomb in his home. The residence was raided, explosives werefound, and the guard was taken away. According to sources, he confessed, whichled to another arrest. Three more bodyguards, along with the manager ofHashemi’s office were all later detained. The Baghdad Operations Command wassupposed to hold a press conference explaining the arrests, and the charges againstHashemi, but Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court said that nothing should be aireduntil the investigation was completed. On December 19, parts of the guards’confessions were released to the press, implicating their role in attacks for the last two years, with Hashemifunding and directing them. Finally, Army units were placed outside of theresidences of Hashemi, Mutlaq, and Finance Minister Rafi Issawi, and Allawiclaimed that several members of his staff were arrested as well. The next day,a source close to Maliki claimed that he had given Hashemi two days to provehis innocence against the terrorism charges; otherwise he would be arrested aswell. This came after more leaks to the press about the [link to www.aknews.co...knews] Read more: [link to dinarvets.com]

CBI official survived blastMaliki calls for the Kurdistan Regional Government to hand over al-HashemiEU calls on the Iraqi government and political forces for dialogueIraqi List intends to submit a formal request of no confidence for Maliki leadershipBombing rips thru BaghdadMaliki: We reject the intervention of the Arab League and the United Nations in the case of al-HashemiLink between the Iraqi government bombings in Baghdad and the issue of al-HashemiUN’s Kubler urges Iraqi leaders to take to ensure the security of citizensIraqi parliament calls on the leaders of the blocs to hold an emergency meeting on FridayCBI Daily Currency Auction Dec 22 2011: $281 million [link to thecurrencynewshound.com]

View PostElixirbaby, on 22 December 2011 - 06:43 AM, said:Wonder if CIA Director, Petraeus had anything to do with this meeting?

Looks like he did because he meet with the Iraqi list and dropped the bomb shell that the US knew of the crimes!

So it looks like the US is backing up Maliki on the charges of terrorisim being brought forward against the VP.

Petraeus met with all sides so they ALL know the US has the truth in the situation so we should see something happen quick.

December 21, 2011

Petraeus aware of crimes Hashemi

An official source in the Iraqi List, that head of U.S. intelligence (CIA), which served as the commander of U.S. occupation forces in Iraq earlier (David Petraeus) arrived in haste to Baghdad after receiving a phone call from a Gulf state and leaders of the Iraqi List ask him to attend the emergency meeting held last Monday at the home of the leadership in Iraq Rafie al-Issawi.

The source said that (Petraeus) and the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad (James Jeffrey) participated in the emergency meeting on the serious accusations against Hashemi. According to the source, (Petraeus) surprised the audience by saying he has information about the involvement of al-Hashemi and his involvement in the criminal operations, but added to say that The time then was not allowed to disclose it, adding that he was aware of the issuance of arrest warrant against the latter

It kind of looks like that. At least it seems that Maliki is right about the VP involved in terrorism based on the CIA head. It is good to know that Maliki is not just ordering up arrests because he wants to get rid of opposition!

Parliament heads meeting is a good thing! Let's hope they do more than fight and bicker.

23-12-2011 | (Voice of Iraq) - Add a comment - (KUNA)Iran accused the external parties responsible for a series of bombings in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, killing and wounding many citizens.The news agency quoted Iranian official to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran in Arab and African Abdallahaan Amir Hussain as saying, "The bombings in Baghdad came under the guidance and planning by some foreign parties." . He did not say Allahaan Abdul in a statement the identity of foreign parties meant but he said, "that the bombings intended to ignite sectarian strife between Muslims in Iraq." ". And strongly condemned the bombings and said "these practices condemned by the Iraqi people and the conscious and the elected government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his security forces and the military will take up strongly to these terrorist elements seditious."

Well thats quite the interview. Sound aboutlike everyone else's opinion, it all up in the air as to the final outcome. I found the comment at the end more troubling. Negative Ned, but at this point anything is possible. sk

Foreign Minister meets with ambassadors and heads of missions of countries of the EU in IraqWhite Bloc to mediate between Maliki and Alawi, MPPresident Joseph Biden discusses with the current situation in IraqNajafi and Jeffrey Issawi discuss with the political situation and the U.S. withdrawal from the countryIraq List is considering a request to parliament to impeach al-MalikiCentral pumping the dollar to reduce the price and sells $281 million in auctionIBN: Investor Guides Assist Opportunity SeekersThe implications of U.S. withdrawal raises the dollar exchange rateIraq: the financial markets not affected by the bombings of Baghdad [link to thecurrencynewshound.com]

BAGHDAD - Rebuffing a plea by the Obama administration, Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki signaled Wednesday that he’s ready to gradually drop his key partner party, the largely Sunni Iraqiya bloc, and move toward a government run by the country’s Shiite majority at the expense of minority Sunnis and Kurds.

Gunmen steal 45 million dinars from the Office of the banking center of Kut

A source in the Police Directorate of Wasit province, a reporter (and the Iraqi News Agency Independent) that masked gunmen have robbed the office and stole an amount of 45 million Iraqi dinars were inside Aldamul in the city center.

The source added that the thieves had fled to an unknown destination, while security forces conducted an investigation to identify the assailants.

Kuwait decided to facilitate the procedures for the entry of Iraqi merchants in order to expand trade between the two countriesParliament economic committee member calls for the application of tariff lawEconomist predicts lower inflation rates; Says large amounts of cash pumping into economyISX will reopen Jan 1st 2012 after closing 2011 on high notesSource says Iraqi political leaders will be next weekBan Ki-moon: The withdrawal of US forces will give Iraq’s leaders a chance to show their abilities in running the countryUN Sec-General’s Representative in Iraq calls for Iraq’s Leaders to shoulder their responsibilities to stop violenceMerry Christmas from Just Hopin and The Currency NewshoundWhite House condemned the attacks and says it will not stop Iraq’s progressArab League condemns bombings in Baghdad and warns of setback to the political process in IraqBritish newspapers accused Maliki’s playing with fire and dictatorship will lead to the dismemberment of IraqItaly expresses concern about what is happening in Iraq, but confident in the possibility of a return to normalIraq’s leaders cancel Friday’s ;emergency meeting; Washington invite political leaders to unifyIRAN: Lopping Off Zeros From National Currency Under StudyBiden’s statements is “an avowed intervention”, MPSadrist Movement launches Charter for National Honour; Encourages Iraqi political blocs to sign a code of honor after U.S. withdrawalState of Law MP:Iraq List will not reverse its decision to suspend its membership; Parliament may be forced to form a majority governmentAllawi warns Iraq has reached a point of a political vacuumU.S. intelligence warned of the conflict in Iraq after U.S. withdrawal [link to thecurrencynewshound.com]

The government has presented a proposal to the Economic Council to further examine its plan to you suck four zeros off the national currency, said deputy minister of economic affairs and finance.

“Currently, the government’s economic commission has completed [its] review of a bill to overhaul the national currency, and it has been presented to the Economic Council,” Mohammad-Reza Farzin said, Presstv reported on Friday.

Farzin added that the Majlis will discuss the issue and will vote on it after the council completes its studies.

However, the official cast doubt about the passage of the bill before the end of the current Iranian year (in March 2012).

Earlier in April, Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Shamseddin Husseini announced a plan to remove three zeros from the national currency, the rial, in a move to optimize financial performance.

Iran ‘will remove three zeros from the national currency this year on the condition that the prerequisites are met’, he noted.

The government has presented a proposal to the Economic Council to further examine its plan to you suck four zeros off the national currency, said deputy minister of economic affairs and finance.

“Currently, the government’s economic commission has completed [its] review of a bill to overhaul the national currency, and it has been presented to the Economic Council,” Mohammad-Reza Farzin said, Presstv reported on Friday.

Farzin added that the Majlis will discuss the issue and will vote on it after the council completes its studies.

However, the official cast doubt about the passage of the bill before the end of the current Iranian year (in March 2012).

Earlier in April, Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Shamseddin Husseini announced a plan to remove three zeros from the national currency, the rial, in a move to optimize financial performance.

Iran ‘will remove three zeros from the national currency this year on the condition that the prerequisites are met’, he noted.

The government has presented a proposal to the Economic Council to further examine its plan to you suck four zeros off the national currency, said deputy minister of economic affairs and finance.

“Currently, the government’s economic commission has completed [its] review of a bill to overhaul the national currency, and it has been presented to the Economic Council,” Mohammad-Reza Farzin said, Presstv reported on Friday.

Farzin added that the Majlis will discuss the issue and will vote on it after the council completes its studies.

However, the official cast doubt about the passage of the bill before the end of the current Iranian year (in March 2012).

Earlier in April, Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Shamseddin Husseini announced a plan to remove three zeros from the national currency, the rial, in a move to optimize financial performance.

Iran ‘will remove three zeros from the national currency this year on the condition that the prerequisites are met’, he noted.

I decided to put my dinar up for sale as long as I can break even. I'm selling until HCL passes. I just need the extra cash, bought about twice as much as I really need. It sucks, but I didn't expect it to go this long. It's even looking like a possible 2013 RV now...

Posted Today, 12:30 AMKarbala distributed instruments on the ground and cut the victims of the former regime, according to Article 140

22 December, 2011 05:16:36 Hoda - Karbala

Musharraf said offices of the center and south, to implement Article one hundred and forty of the Constitution, said that the office has witnessed on Wednesday the distribution of cash and spare plots of land to more than four hundred and ninety of those affected during the former regime and covered by the article, pointing out that the numbers affected in the region amounted to thirty-seven thousand is affected.

. Said Mohammed Aloasm to our radio that the process of distribution has the presence of the Minister of Transport Hadi al-Amiri, who heads the Supreme Committee for the implementation of article one hundred and forty, and the presence of a number of officials maintain, explaining that he had been distributing financial instruments amounting to ten million dinars, as well as support a piece of land to people affected by the previous regime .

. The Aloasm that victims who have been distributed instruments were from the provinces of the Middle Euphrates Karbala, Najaf, Diwaniyah and Samawah and Babel, "pointing out that" this is the meal is the fifth that are distributed and preceded the distribution of more than one thousand eight hundred instrument and a piece of land on the beneficiaries of the law in the earlier times of the year the current.